...and another thing I found and enjoyed in my very limited ultra experience was that there was no "clowning" around like I've been finding in marathons...nobody was dressed up in stupid costumes, fewer people with Iphones, Ipods, etc..., no pacers, no corrals, no celeberties running, just a quiet race with runners that seemed to be pretty cool!

So you haven't seen my friend in his pink tutu at Badwater or other races yet.

2015 Goals: Run IAT50K, run first 100K, and exceed 100K in a 24-Hour race

Thought I'd poke my head in here and check you out. I have one 50k under my belt this last June, and I plan on one or two more this year. More from an aspect of wanting to have a better race as opposed to a better time. (fueling, pacing and training)

I've been inspired by RJR and his ability to express the mental and emotional side of an ultra. If you havenot readany of his detailed race reports you should set aside a weekend and check out his blog.

Looking forward to meeting some new folks and improving my Ultra skills.

I have many noob questions, but I'll try to limit them and only ask 6 or 7 at a time.

A bit of running history...completed last marathon in 2004, since that point, been running off and on. Began getting 'serious' again since July. Take that to mean that my long runs are currently about 6 and some change. SO..

How many MPW should I be running to even begin to consider training for an Ultra (I am guessing that I'd try a 50K first, before a 50 miler)? Am I crazy to even be thinking of running an Ultra at this point, until I get the feeling of running the marathon distance again?

I see that there is a local Ultra training group here in San Antonio, but before I approach them asking to train with them, I wanted to be somewhat prepared.

Be careful of the toes that you step on, because they may be connected to the ass that you have to kiss.

I have many noob questions, but I'll try to limit them and only ask 6 or 7 at a time.

A bit of running history...completed last marathon in 2004, since that point, been running off and on. Began getting 'serious' again since July. Take that to mean that my long runs are currently about 6 and some change. SO..

How many MPW should I be running to even begin to consider training for an Ultra (I am guessing that I'd try a 50K first, before a 50 miler)? Am I crazy to even be thinking of running an Ultra at this point, until I get the feeling of running the marathon distance again?

I see that there is a local Ultra training group here in San Antonio, but before I approach them asking to train with them, I wanted to be somewhat prepared.

I have never passed the "serious runner's exam" and probably never will, but any consistent running pattern is a good place to start. Just get steady, work on endurance first ... http://www.ultrunr.com still has a lot of good stuff to read.

There is no logical progression for running ultramarathons. It is somewhat meaningless, but my first six ultras were 50k (10 5k laps on pavement), 6-hour on trails, 50-mile roads, 75-k on roads, 50k on roads, 50-miles (trails). Just find one, train for the distance, go run.

Really running a marathon or 50k or 50 miler can be done all with marathon training ... as long as you have a generous cut-off, you pace nice and easy, eat and drink enough and are stubborn enough. Find an easy smaller elevation change, not too technical 50k. Trail races tend to be laid back and low key compared to marathon where everything is about how fast you run them. Taking time to BS with aide station volunteers, eat a doughnut or drink a beer on course is allowed.

I have many noob questions, but I'll try to limit them and only ask 6 or 7 at a time.

A bit of running history...completed last marathon in 2004, since that point, been running off and on. Began getting 'serious' again since July. Take that to mean that my long runs are currently about 6 and some change. SO..

How many MPW should I be running to even begin to consider training for an Ultra (I am guessing that I'd try a 50K first, before a 50 miler)? Am I crazy to even be thinking of running an Ultra at this point, until I get the feeling of running the marathon distance again?

I see that there is a local Ultra training group here in San Antonio, but before I approach them asking to train with them, I wanted to be somewhat prepared.

Thought I'd poke my head in here and check you out. I have one 50k under my belt this last June, and I plan on one or two more this year. More from an aspect of wanting to have a better race as opposed to a better time. (fueling, pacing and training)

I've been inspired by RJR and his ability to express the mental and emotional side of an ultra. If you havenot readany of his detailed race reports you should set aside a weekend and check out his blog.

Looking forward to meeting some new folks and improving my Ultra skills.

I have never passed the "serious runner's exam" and probably never will, but any consistent running pattern is a good place to start. Just get steady, work on endurance first ... http://www.ultrunr.com still has a lot of good stuff to read.

There is no logical progression for running ultramarathons. It is somewhat meaningless, but my first six ultras were 50k (10 5k laps on pavement), 6-hour on trails, 50-mile roads, 75-k on roads, 50k on roads, 50-miles (trails). Just find one, train for the distance, go run.

Hill Country folks? Stay away from Bandera.

Thanks John and Dopple.....the allure of being able to run nice and easy, eat and BS more is what attracts me to the Ultra. I mentioned previously that I want to be involved in something that I am not a slave to the competition, time and pressure of the marathon. The more I read RunJasonRun's and Mandy's reports on their journey's, the more intrigued I become.

I see that the H.C. folks do have a few local Ultras. Also, one of the local guys that heads up a local running group just completed Badwater, so local resources are available....but these forums provide a wider breadth of experience. Thanks again.

Be careful of the toes that you step on, because they may be connected to the ass that you have to kiss.

I see that the H.C. folks do have a few local Ultras. Also, one of the local guys that heads up a local running group just completed Badwater, so local resources are available....but these forums provide a wider breadth of experience. Thanks again.

One other little thing you can do... volunteer at a nearby ultramarathon.

Meet lots of weird and interesting people.

Stay up all night (Bandera 100k, Cactus Rose... )

Get a t-shirt without training or running (common reward, but not always)

Lots of great conversations that disconnect and reconnect all through the day, and night.